Training teat unit

Abstract

A training teat unit for premature babies has a shield, and a teat connected to the shield and having a mouthpiece. The teat has a base body, which forms a mouth support, wherein the mouthpiece adjoins the base body and narrows in relation to the base body. At least one cavity with at least one suction opening is present in the mouthpiece for the purpose of making available a food droplet or a reward droplet, wherein the cavity is closed except for the at least one suction opening. This training teat unit permits motivation-based and optimal training of the sucking action of a premature baby.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training teat unit for premature babies, wherein the training teat unit has a shield, and a teat connected to the shield and having a mouthpiece, wherein the teat has a base body, which forms a mouth support, wherein the mouthpiece adjoins the base body and narrows in relation to the base body, and wherein at least one cavity with at least one suction opening is present in the mouthpiece for the purpose of making available a food droplet or a reward droplet, wherein the cavity is closed except for the at least one suction opening. 
     
     
         2 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the teat is hollow. 
     
     
         3 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cavity is arranged in a free end area of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         4 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a closed partition wall is present in the teat, the closed partition wall extending approximately perpendicularly with respect to a longitudinal centre axis of the teat ( 1 ) and closing the at least one cavity in a fluid-tight manner. 
     
     
         5 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the suction openings in a free end of the mouthpiece is arranged centrally with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the mouthpiece, and wherein a first of the at least one cavity is open towards this free end and ends in this at least one suction opening. 
     
     
         6 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of suction openings and cavities are present, wherein at least some of these suction openings and cavities are formed by grooves, which are formed in an outer face of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         7 . The training teat unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the grooves run at least approximately parallel to a longitudinal centre axis of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         8 . The training teat unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the grooves are distributed uniformly about a circumference of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         9 . The training teat unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the grooves end at a distance from the free end of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         10 . The training teat unit according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the suction openings in a free end of the mouthpiece is arranged centrally with respect to a longitudinal centre axis of the mouthpiece, and wherein a first of the at least one cavity is open towards this free end and ends in this at least one suction opening and wherein each groove has a peripheral suction opening, which leads outwards from the first cavity . 
     
     
         11 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the suction openings are distributed about the circumference of the mouthpiece and lead outwards from at least one cavity arranged in the interior of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         12 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein precisely one suction opening is present. 
     
     
         13 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece has a solid free end, and wherein an outer face of the free end has a multiplicity of blind holes, which form the cavities and the suction openings. 
     
     
         14 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece has a free end, which is porous and thus forms the cavities and suction openings. 
     
     
         15 . The training teat unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield has a through-opening surrounded by the teat, wherein the teat is hollow, and a hollow space thus formed is open with respect to this through-opening, and wherein the at least one cavity is separated from the hollow space in a fluid-tight manner.